Speed-regulator for explosive-engines.



No.- 66 5,7l4. Patented Ian. 8,'-|90|.

A. zmmEnmAu SPEED REGULATOR FOB EXPLOSIVE ENGINES,

(Application filed July 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheats-Shee.t l.

W/ TNE SSE S .a /N VE N 70/? 'AITOBN E XS "rm: norms PETERSIO. wmou'rua.WASHINGTON, o. c v

No. 665,7I4. Patented Ian. 8, |9o|.

A. L. ZIMMEBMAN. 7 SPEED REGULATOR FOB EXPLUSIVE ENGINES.

(Applicstion filed m 29, 1899.) (No lodol.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

lllllllllll WITNESSES No. 665,7l4. Patented Jan, s,j|9 'o|;-;-

Z-IMMEBMAN. SPEED REGULATOR FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

" (Application filed July 29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNIED STATES PATENT Fries.

ALBERT L. ZIMMERMAN, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOHN W. CAMERON, OF SAME PLACE.

SPEED-REGULATOR FOR EXPLOSlVE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,714. dated Januarya, 1901.

Application filed July 29, 1899.

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. ZIMMERMAN, of Valparaiso, in the county ofPorter and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Gas orGasolene Engine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The invention relates to engines receiving an impulse from an explosionevery other stroke; and the object of the invention is to provide a newand improved gas or gasolene engine which is simple and durable in construction arranged to obtain explosions regu-' larly, but of variousstrength or power, ac-

I5 cording to the speed of the engine, to insure uniform running thereofunder a varying load.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as

will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented inthe accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is an end viewof the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear sectional elevation of theair-admission valve and the oil-pump, the section being on the line 3 3in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the mechanismfor actuating the air-inlet valve and'the oil-pump. Fig. 5 is anenlarged sectional plan view of the improvement on the line 5 5 inFig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve and pumpactuating device. Fig. 7 is an enlarged face view of one clutch memberof said de- 0 vice, and Fig. 8 is a like view of the other clutch memberand its actuating ratchetwheel.

The improved engine is provided with a water-jacketed cylinder A, inwhich recipro- 5 cates a piston B, connected at the inner or open end ofthe cylinder by a pitman O with a crank D on the main driving-shaft D,provided with the usual fly-wheels E and a pulley E for transmitting therotary motion of the shaft to other machinery. The outer or closed endof the cylinder A is formed with a Seria1N'o.725;4=90. N0 model.)

working or explosion cham-berA (see Fig. 5) and connected by a port awith chest F, connected at one side by a mixture-inlet valve G with amixing-chamber H and at the other side by an exhaust-valve I with anexhaust chamber J, provided with an outlet or ex: haust pipe J forcarrying off the products of combustion. Into the mixing chamber H opensan air-supply pipe H, connected with the outer air, and saidchamber alsoconnects by a port 1) with the discharge-chamber K of a pump K. (SeeFig.3.) The pumpK is actuated from the main driving-shaft D, inconjunction with the exhaust-valve I, and the mixture-inlet valve G isopened by the suction action of the piston Bin the cylinderA when on theinward stroke; .but the length of the pump-stroke and the openingdistance for the inlet-valve G are controlled by the gov- 7o ernor, ashereinafter more fully described.

In order to actuate the pump from the main driving-shaft, I provide thefollowing detail construction, special reference being had to Figs. 3,5, and 6: The pump K is provided with a barrel K in which reciprocates aplunger K normally held in an outermost position by a spring K, asindicated in Fig. 3. Into the barrel K opens the valved gravity oil-feedpipe K and said barrel is connected by a spring-pressed valve K with thevalvedischarge chamber K, so that on the inward stroke of the plunger Kagainst the tension of the spring K the previously-drawn-in oil orgasolene is forced past the valve K into the chamber K and from thelatter through the port 1) into the mixing-chamber H to mix therein withthe air passing in by the pipe H. On the return or outward stroke of theplunger K by the action of the spring K oil flows through the gravityfeed-pipe K into the barrel K to fill the same, the valve in the pipe Kclosing on the next inward or working stroke of the plunger K The outerend K of the plunger K is adapted to be engaged by a set-screw L, heldin the end of a slidable rod L, mounted to slide longitudinally insuitable bearings arranged on the engine-frame, the set-screw beingsecured in place after adjustment by the jam-nut L we as is plainlyindicated in the drawings. The rod L is connected with a lever L (seeFig.

5,) fulcrumed on the engine and pivotally connected with ahead L securedon the outer end of the stem I of the exhaust-valve I, said stem beingpressed on by a spring I to normally hold the valve I in a closedposition and the set-screw L from the end K of the plunger K On the stemI of the valve I, adjacent to the head L is secured a shouldered collarN, adapted to be engaged by a slide N, mounted to slide transversely inthe upper end 0 of a lever O, fulcru med at its lower end 0 to the frameof the engine, said upper end 0 of the lever 0 being connected with theeccentricrod P of an eccentric on the main drivingshaft D to impart auniform swinging motion to the lever 0 when the engine is running.

- Normally the slide N stands out of contact with the collar N, andconsequently the stem I, with its valve I, is held by the spring I in anoutermost closed position; but when the slide N is moved transversely atevery second revolution of the shaft D then said slide engages thecollar N and imparts a sliding motion to the stem 1 against the tensionof the spring I to move the valve I off its seat and connect the chest Fwith the exhaustchamber J to allow the products of combustion to escapefrom the cylinder during the second return or outward stroke of thepiston B, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The slide N is pressed on by a spring N in the end 0, (see Fig. 5,) andon the outer end of the shank N of said slide are secured a nut N and acam or clutch member Q, having two teeth adapted to be engaged by fourteeth in a cam or clutch member Q, formed or attached to a ratchet-wheelQ mounted to rotate loosely on the shank N of the slide N. Theratchet-wheel Q is engaged at diametrically opposite points by pawls Q Qfulcru med on arms Q Q, respectively, mounted to swing loosely on theshank N as a fulcrum, said arms being pivotally connected at their freeends with links Q Q respectively,

pivoted on the stationary chest F, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Now when a rocking motion is given to the lever 0 from the eccentricthen the slide N is carried bodily forward and backward in the upper endof the lever, and the links Q Q impart a rocking motion to the arms Q Qso that the pawls Q Q thereof impart an intermittent rotary motion tothe ratchet-wheel Q whereby the clutch member Q actuates the clutchmember Q on every other revolution to allow a transverse sliding of theslide N in the end 0 by the action of the spring N to engage the slide Nwith the collar N and to impart a sliding motion to the stem 1 to openthe valveI, as above explained, and to also impart a swinging motion tothe lever L to move the rod L inward, so that the set-screw L moves inengagement with the plunger K and causes the latter to force a chargeinto the mixing-chamber H, as above explained. The collar N abovereferred to is attached to an arm N loosely fulcrumed on the lever O, asshown in Fig. 6. As shown in the drawings, the ratchet-wheel Q has eightteeth, and the throw of the eccentric is such that the ratchet-wheel isturned at each revolution of the shaft D the distance between two teeth,and as the cam or clutch members Q Q have two and four teeth,respectively, it is evident that the engine-shaft has to make one andone-half revolutions be' fore the clutch member Q registers with themember Q and slides transversely thereto.

During the following one-half revolution of the shaft D the position ofthe clutch member Q is not distnrbed,and consequently the valve remainsopen during this period to allow escape of the products of combustionfrom the cylinder.

The valve G is provided with a valve-stem G, pressed on by a spring G2to normally hold the valve G to its seat, but to allow the valve to openduring the suction periodthat is, when the piston Bis on the inwardstroke.

It is evident that when this takes place the previously-forced-in oilfrom the pump K mixes with the air drawn in by the pipe H, and thismixture passes from the chamberH into the chest F and toand by the porta into the cylinder to be compressed on the return or next outwardstroke of the piston B and to be then ignited by a suitable electric orother igniting device. The explosion then following gives an impulse tothe piston B to force the same on its next inward stroke, the valves Gand I then remaining closed owing to the pressure in the chest F. On thenext outward stroke of the piston 13 the valve I opens, as aboveexplained, to allow the products of combustion to be discharged from thecylinder by way of the port a, chest F, chamber J, and pipe J.

In order to control the length of the stroke of the plunger K of thepump at the time the valve G is opened for admitting a mixture to thecylinder, I provide the followingarrangement, it being expresslyunderstood that the governor, according to the speed of the engine,controls this arrangement, special reference being had to Figs. 1 and 4On the stem of the governor R of any approved construction is held a rodR, pivotally connected at its lower end with a link R connected with thearms T and U of a cam-sleeve T and a screw'rod U, respectively. (SeeFig. 4;.) The sleeve T is formed in its periphery with spiral slots Tinto each of which projects a pin T held on a fixed bearing T, on whichthe sleeve is mounted to turn and to slide longitudinally. The sleeve Tand its bearing T are concentric with the valve-stem G of theinlet-valve G, and the said sleeve forms a limiting-stop for the collarG secured on the outer end of the stem G, the distance between thesleeve and the collar corresponding to'the opening movement of the valveG during the suction pe riod. When the speed of the engine increases,the rod R is drawn upward by the action of the governor, and an upwardmotion is thereby given to the arm T by the link R so that thecam-sleeve T is turned and moved outward by the action of the pins T inthe grooves T Thus the outer end of the sleeve T is moved nearer to thecollar G so that during the next suction period the inward opening ofthe valve G is red need, and consequently a less amount of explosivemixture is allowed to pass into the cylinder to cause a reduction ofspeed. The screw-rod U is made hollow and mounted to turn loosely on theend K of the pump-plunger K and said screw-rod screws in a nut U fixedto suitable arms U forming part of the engine. The inner end of thescrew-rod U is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder K on the plunger K tolimit the inward-sliding motion of said plunger.

Now it is evident that when the screw-rod U is turned by the action ofthe governor the stroke of the plunger K is lengthened orshortened,according to the direction in which the screwrod is turned, sothat more or less oil or gasolene is forced by the plunger into themixing-chamber H. As the governor actuates both graduating devices, theone for the valve G and the other for the pump, it is evident that amore or less strong mixture is formed in the chamber H, and more or lessof this mixture is passed into the cylinder to give a more or lessforcible impulse to the piston, according to the speed of the engine.

It is understood that a charge of explosive mixture is passed into thecylinder at every other revolution of the main shaft, and this charge isignited to give an impulse to the piston, as described; but as thecharge is rarefied according to the speed of the engine it is evidentthat the explosions take place regularly, but with more or less force,according to the speed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Anexplosion-engine, coinprisingacylinder, a piston reciprocating therein,a chestin communication with said cylinder, a mixingchamber, aninlet-valve for connecting the mixing-chamber with said chest, anair-supply for the mixing-chamber, a pump for pump-- ing the gas or oilinto the mixing-chamber, graduating devices for the said inlet-valve andsaid pump, to limit the opening movement of the said inlet-valve and thestroke of said pump, the graduating device for the valve consisting of asleeve turned by the action of the governor and provided with a spiralgroove, a lixed pin extending into the groove, a collar on thevalve-stem to abut against the said sleeve, the said graduating devicefor the pump consisting of a screw-rod for the pump-plunger to abutagainst and turned by the action of the governor, and a fixed nut inwhich screws the screw-rod, substantially as shown and described.

2. An explosion-engine, comprisinga cylinder, a piston reciprocatingtherein, a chest in communication with said cylinder, a mixingchamber,an inlet-valve for connecting the mixing-chamber with said chest, anair-supply for the mixing-chamber, a pump for pumping the gas or oilinto the mixing-chamber, graduating devices for the said inlet-valve andsaid pump, to limit the opening movement of the said inlet-valve and thestroke of said pump, the graduating device for the valve consisting of asleeve turned by the action of the governor and provided with a spiralgroove, a fixed pin extending into the groove, a collar on thevalve-stem to abut against the said sleeve, the said graduating devicefor the pump consisting of a screw-rod for the pump-plunger to abutagainst and turned by the action of the governor, a fixed nutin whichscrews the screw-rod, a governor, a rod connected with the governor andraised or lowered by the same according to the speed of the engine, alink on the said rod, and arms on the said sleeve and the saidscrew-rod, and connected with the said link, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. An explosion-engine, provided with a pump comprising a barrel, aspring-pressed plunger in said barrel, an inlet-pipe for said barrel, adischarge-chamber connected with the barrel and means for moving theplunger against the tension of the spring the said means comprising arod mounted to slide in bearings on the engine-frame, a set-screwadjustably carried by said rod, and adapted to engage the plunger whenthe rod is moved inward, a lever connected with said rod and adaptedwhen swung to move the said rod inward, a spring-pressed slide 'foractuating said lever, and a lever receiving a rocking motion from theengine-shaft, and carrying said slide, substantially as described.

4. An explosion-engine, provided with a cylinder, a piston reciprocatingtherein, a chest in connection with the working chamber of the cylinder,an exhaust-chamber connected with the chest, a spring-pressedexhaust-valve controlling the connection between the said chest and thesaid exhaustchamber,the valve being normally held to its seat by itsspring, an actuating device for. the said valve, and comprising a leverreceiving a rocking motion from the engine-shaft, a spring-pressed slidemounted in the said lever for engaging the stem of the said valve tomove the latter into an open position, a revoluble clutch member mountedto turn on'the said slide, and a clutch member fixed on the slide andhaving less teeth than the revoluble clutch member and adapted to beengaged by the revoluble clutch member, to allow of shifting the slideby its spring for engagement with the valve-stem, substantially as shownand described.

5. An explosion-engine,provided with a cylinder, a piston reciprocatingtherein, a chest in connection with the working chamber of the cylinder,an exhaust-chain ber connected with the chest, a spring-pressedexhaust-valve controlling the connection between the said chest and thesaid exhaust-chamber, the valve being normallyheld to its seat by itsspring, an actuating device for the said valve, and comprising a leverreceiving a rocking motion from the engine-shaft, a spring-pressed slidemounted in the said lever for engaging the stem of the said valve tomove the latter into an open position, a revoluble clutch member mountedto turn on said slide, a clutch member fixed on the slide and havingless teeth than the revoluble clutch member, to allow of shifting theslide by its spring for engagement with the valve-stem, means forturning the said revoluble clutch member on rocking the lever, andconsisting of a ratchet-Wheel on the said revoluble clutch member, pawlsengaging the ratchet-Wheel, arms loosely fulcrumed on the slide, andlinks pivoted at one end on fixed supports and pivotally connected attheir other ends with the said arms, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. An actuating device for a springpressed sliding part, such as thepump or the exhaustvalve, and comprising a spring-pressed slide forconnection with the part to be moved in one direction, a lever receivinga rocking motion from the engine-shaft and carrying said slide, andmeans forimparting a sliding movement to the said slide on rocking thelever, substantially as shown and described.

7. An actuating device for a spring-pressed sliding part, such as thepump or exhaustvalve, and comprising a spring-pressed slide forconnection with the part to be moved in one direction, a lever receivinga rocking motion from the engine-shaft and carrying said slide, meansfor imparting a sliding movement to the said slide on rocking the lever,the said means comprising a revoluble clutch member, a clutch memberfixed on the slide and having less teeth than the revoluble clutchmember, a ratchet-wheel on the revoluble clutch member, pawls in meshwith the ratchet-Wheel, arms fulcrumed loosely on the slide and carryingthe pawls, and links pivoted at one end on a fixed support and connectedat their other ends With said arms.

8. An explosion-engine, comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocatingtherein, a chest in communication with said cylinder, amixing-chamber,an inlet-valve for connecting the mixing-chamber withsaid chest at one side thereof, an exhaust-chamber connected with theother side of said chest by an exhaustvalve, an air-supply for themixing-chamber, a pump for pumping the gas or oil into themiXing-chamber,adjustable devices mounted concentric with the stem ofsaid inlet-valve and the plunger of said pump respectively for limitingthe opening movement of the inlet-valve for the explosive mixture andthe stroke of said pump,and a governor connected with the said devicesfor adjusting the same, substantially as described.

9; An explosion-engine, comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocatingtherein, a chest in communication with said cylinder, amixing-chamber,an inlet-valve for connecting the mixing-chamber withsaid chest,an air-supply for the mixing-chamber, a pump for pumping thegas or oilinto the mixing-chamber,adj ustable stops mounted to turnconcentric with the stem of said inlet-valve and the plunger of the pumprespectively and means for imparting longitudinal movement to the saidstops when turned to limit the opening movement of said inlet-valve andthe stroke of said pump, substantially as described.

10. An explosion-engine, comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocatingtherein, a chest in communication with said cylinder, a mixing-chamber,an inlet-valve for connecting the mixing-chamber with said chest, anairsupply for the mixing-chamber, a pump for pumping the gas or oil intothe mixing-chamber, devices mounted concentric with the stem of theinlet-valve and the end of the pump-plunger respectively and adjustablelongitudinally thereon, the said devices being adapted to be engaged bystops on the said valve-stem and plunger, and a governor connected withsaid devices for simultaneously adjusting the same with reference tosaid stops to limit the opening movement of said inlet-valve and thestroke of said pump, substantially as shown and described.

11. An explosion-engine, provided with a cylinder, a pistonreciprocating therein, a chest in communication with the Working chamberof the cylinder, a mixing-chamber, an inlet-valve for connecting themixingchamber with said chest, an air-supply for the mixing -chamber, anexhaust chamber connected with the chest, an exhaust-valve controllingthe connection between the said chest and the exhaust-chamber, the valvebeing normally held to its seat by a spring, a lever receiving a rockingmotion from the engine-shaft, a spring-pressed slide mounted in saidlever for engaging the stem of the valve to move the latter into an openposition, means for imparting a sliding motion to the slide on rockingthe lever, a pump for pumping the gas or oil into the mixing-chamber, aspring-pressed plunger for said pump, and means connected with the stemof the exhaust-valve for moving the pump-plunger against the tension ofthe spring, substantially as described.

12. An explosion-engine, provided with a pump comprising a barrel, aspring-pressed plunger in said barrel, means for moving the plungeragainst the tension of the spring and comprising a rod mounted to slidelongitudinally in bearings on the engine-frame, a setscrew adjustablycarried by said rod and adapted to engage the said plunger when the rodis moved inward, a lever connected with said rod to move the same, anexhaust-valve for the engine provided with a stem the said lever beingpivotally connected with the outer end of the stem of the exhaust-valve,means for imparting movement to said valve-stem, whereby theexhaust-valve and the pumpplunger are actuated simultaneously, and meansfor varying the stroke of the pump and actuated from the governor of theengine, substantially as described.

13. In an explosion-engine, a pump for pumping-the gas or oil into theengine, and a device for limiting the stroke of the pump, the saiddevice comprising a hollow screw-rod mounted to turn loosely on thepump-plunger, a fixed nut in which screws the said screwrod, a stop onthe plunger to abut against the screw-rod, a governor, and connectionsbetween the said governor and the screw-rod for turning the samesubstantially as described.

14. In an explosion-engine, a mixing-chamher, an air-supply for themixing-chamber, a pump for pumping the gas or oil into themixing-chamber, an inlet-valve for the eX- plosive mixture, a cam sleevemounted to turn and arranged concentric with the stem of the inlet-valveand adapted to be engaged by a stop on said valve-stem, the saidcamsleeve when turned being arranged to move longitudinally on itsbearings, a governor,

and means for turning the said sleeve from the governor substantially asdescribed.

15. An explosion-engine, comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocatingtherein, a chest in communication with said cylinder, a mixing-chamber,an inlet-valve for the explosive mixture for connecting themixing-chamber with said chest, a spring for normally holding the valveto its seat, the said valve being opened by the suction action of thepiston when on the inward stroke,'an air-supply for the mixing-chamber,a pump for pumping the gas or oil into the mixing-chamber, anexhaust-valve for connecting said chest with the exhaust, the said valvebeing normally held to its seat by a spring, means for actuating theexhaust-valve and the pump-plunger simultaneously, and devices actuatedfrom the governor for controlling the stroke of the pump and the openingmovement of the inlet valve for the explosive mixture, wherebyexplosions are obtained regularly but of varying degrees of power,according to the speed of the engine, substantially as described.

ALBERT -L. ZIMMERMAN. Witnesses:

TERRY BILLINGS, MYRON J. DRAPIER.

